Lookout notice issued against BMC official accused of cheating actor’s family of Rs 16.2 cr

Ahmed AliMumbai: The Mumbai crime branch has issued a lookout notice against suspended BMC assistant municipal commissioner Mahesh Patil, an accused in the Rs 16.24 crore cheating case lodged by actor Javed Jaffrey’s family.Crime branch officials issued the lookout notice earlier this month amid concerns that Patil might leave the country.The crime branch’s property cell had earlier arrested UK-based businessman Nishit Patel for allegedly cheating actor Javed Jaffrey, his wife Habiba Jaffrey and their relatives of Rs 16.24 crore on the promise of lucrative returns through investments linked to the redevelopment of the New Kamalkunj project in Bandra West.Javid Jaffery’s wife first met Patil at his BMC office in April 2024 for some clarification regarding a tax-related matter. Patil allegedly told her about an investment opportunity in a Bandra property project and advised her to channel it through Patel.Police alleged that Nishit Patel frequently visited the Jaffrey residence, presented project layouts and maps, and persuaded the family to invest nearly Rs 30 crore in exchange for commercial space in the proposed redevelopment project.

He allegedly furnished forged letters purportedly issued by a private bank and other fabricated project-related documents to convince the family to invest.Crime branch officials alleged that forged documents and false assurances were used to collect nearly Rs 16 crore from Javed Jaffrey, his relatives and other investors.Police sources said that several influential individuals, including retired police officers, civic officials, artists and retired judges had allegedly invested amounts ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 20 crore in the project after being promised substantial returns.The alleged fraud came to light in July 2025, when the complainants visited the Bandra registration office and discovered that one of the agreements shown to them did not exist in the official records. The accused later assured investors that the money would be returned, but it never happened.